3.2 Flashcards
Ecological Sucession
transition in species composition over time.
Primary sucession
Soil layer either does not exist or has been completely eradicated, colonizer plants such as mosses and lichens come first.
Secondary sucession
Most organisms have been wiped out, but soil layer is still present and fertile.
Pioneer species
The first organisms to grow in an area during primary succession
Seral stages
The stages between pioneer species first growing and a climax community.
Climax community
A sustained community at the end of ecological succession, usually a slow-growth forest.
Species richness
The number of species found in an area
Species evenness
A calculated value that shows how evenly distributed species in an area are.
Genetic Diversity
How different the genetics of a species are from each other (how closely related to each other they are)
Ecological Diversity
The overall diversity of the species in an area.
Keystone species
Species that regulate other species
